Arteries and veins of the lower extremity

Question 1

Popliteal artery

Answer 1

• When the femoral artery travels through the opening in the adductor magnus and emerges into this space
• ends just inferior to the knee joint as it splits to form the fibular artery and the anterior and posterior tibial artery

Question 2

popliteal fossa

Answer 2

• the diamond-shaped region at the posterior aspect of the knee
• bounded superiorly by the hamstring tendons on each side, and inferiorly by the lateral and medial heads of the gastrocnemius

Question 3

popliteal vein

Answer 3

• this runs along the the popliteal artery and is continuous with the femoral vein
• ends just superior to the knee and then becomes the femoral vein

Question 4

posterior tibial artery

Answer 4

this is a branch off the popliteal artery

• sometimes appears to be a continuation of the popliteal that then has the anterior tibial artery branching off of it
• this is going to run with the tibial nerve
• supplies the posterior compartment of the leg
• is going to divide into the medial and lateral plantar arteries once past the lateral malleolus

Question 5

anterior tibial artery

Answer 5

this is a branch of the popliteal artery

• it may appear to come off of the posterior tibial artery
• this will run with the deep fibular nerve
• this supplies the anterior compartment of the leg
• this is going to branch into the dorsal pedis artery on the top of the foot

Question 6

lateral plantar artery

Answer 6

gives off the plantar arch, which gives off digital arteries to supply the foot and toes.

Question 7

femoral artery

Answer 7

• an extension of the external iliac artery from the pelvis
• supplies the anterior structures of the thigh
• It is named the femoral artery after it travels deep to the inguinal ligament to enter the leg
• branches in the deep femoral artery
• becomes the popliteal artery after traveling through the adductor hiatus

Question 8

deep femoral artery

Answer 8

• largest branch of the femoral artery
• runs posteriorly and supplies the muscles of the posterior and medial regions of the thigh
• the medial and lateral circumflex arteries branch from here

Question 9

Femoral vein

Answer 9

• travels with the femoral artery through the thigh
• carries blood from the lower extremity back to the pelvis
• this becomes the external iliac vein as it passes the inguinal ligament

Question 10

dorsal pedis artery

Answer 10

• supplies muscles and on the dorsal aspect of the foot

- a continuation of the anterior tibial artery when it crosses the talocrural (ankle) joint

Question 11

fibular artery

Answer 11

a branch of the posterior tibial artery shortly after it branches from the popliteal artery in the popliteal fossa

• this feeds the lateral portion of the leg

Question 12

obturator artery

Answer 12

• branches from the internal iliac artery just inferior to the superior gluteal artery
• runs anterolaterally along the ilium.
• runs through the obturator foramen
• gives off branch to the artery to the femoral head.
• supplies the medial thigh muscles and skin

Question 13

great saphenous vein

Answer 13

• drains into the femoral vein near the hip.
• drains everything that the small saphenous vein doesnt
• runs along the medial side of the lower extremity

Question 14

superior gluteal artery

Answer 14

leave the greater sciatic foramen superior to the piriformis muscle
- supplies the posterior pelvic region (the gluteus medius and the gluteus minimus

Question 15

inferior gluteal artery

Answer 15

exits the greater sciatic foramen inferior to the piriformis muscle

• a terminal branch of the internal iliac artery supplying the gluteal and thigh regions
• the inferior gluteal nerve supplies the gluteus maximus

Question 16

small saphenous vein

Answer 16

• travels along the posterior lateral aspect of the calf

- drains the lateral foot and leg and drains into the popliteal vein

Question 17

fibular vein

Answer 17

travels on the posterolateral aspect of the interosseous membrane with the fibular artery

Question 18

anterior and posterior tibial veins

Answer 18

drain the anterior and posterior compartments of the leg, respectively, and unite to form the popliteal vein

Question 19

external iliac vein

Answer 19

this is what the femoral vein turns into as it passes deep to the inguinal ligament

Question 20

deep femoral vein

Answer 20

a vein that drains into the femoral vein

Question 21

medial plantar artery

Answer 21

• much smaller than the lateral plantar artery

- supplies the medial aspect of the foot

Question 22

plantar arch

Answer 22

formed when the lateral plantar artery turns medially and unites with the deep plantar branch of the dorsalis pedis artery

Question 23

internal iliac artery

Answer 23

the smaller terminal branch of the common iliac artery

• supplies everything in the pelvic cavity

Question 24

external iliac artery

Answer 24

• a major blood vessel transporting oxygenated blood out of the pelvic region and into the leg

Question 25

medial circumflex femoral artery

Answer 25

• a branch of the deep femoral artery

- an artery in the upper thigh that helps supply blood to the neck of the femur

Question 26

artery to the femoral head

Answer 26

this travels within the ligamentum teres

• this is important for blood flow to the femoral head and can be damaged with hip dislocation
• damage can lead to a lack of blood supply to the head of the femur and this can lead to necrotic death

Question 27

superior gluteal artery

Answer 27

• this supplies all the gluteal muscles but is mostly responsible for supplying the medius and minimus
• supplies the maximus via an anastomosis
• exits the greater sciatic foramen superior to the piriformis

Question 28

inferior gluteal artery

Answer 28

• this supplies all the gluteal maximus
• supplies the minimus and medius via an anastomosis
• exits the greater sciatic foramen inferior to the piriformis

Question 29

what is important to remember about the saphenous vein blood

Answer 29

this blood is being shunted to the deep veins by perforating veins because the saphenous veins are in the skin and are not surrounded by muscles

• this is important to note because muscle contraction is often used to aid in fighting gravity to get the blood back to the heart

Question 30

perforating veins

Answer 30

these carry blood from the superficial veins (the saphenous veins) to the deep veins where muscle actin can aid in the movement against gravity